It was a winning combination when NIU students partnered with Special Olympics athletes from Opportunity House of Sycamore for a National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) soccer tournament. Playing as the NIU Unified team, the athletes took first place in the Unified Division Spring Soccer Championship held at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Saturday, April 13.
“Opportunities like this are so important,” said Laura Kucik, assistant director of NIU Competitive Sports. “These events can be used as teaching methods; just because someone is different does not mean they aren’t capable. We can all interact, have fun and work together as a team.”
Four NIU students joined five Opportunity House athletes to create the NIU Unified soccer team during a National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association tournament on April 13 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program that unites people with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and those without intellectual disabilities (partners) for training and competition.
This is the first time NIU Recreation Wellness and Opportunity House have joined forces for the tournament.
“Events like this showcase what Special Olympics athletes are capable of doing when given the opportunity,” Opportunity House coach, Marc Johnson, said. “I know what our athletes are capable of, but being able to show those skills to others is truly amazing.”
Johnson said his athletes take great pride in their skills, and the tournament provided a platform to demonstrate those skills. In turn, NIU students benefit from being part of the team.
“I feel the NIU students gained a new respect for what our athletes are able to do on the athletic fields,” Johnson said. “I am hoping the experience opened their eyes to the world of Special Olympics and the positive benefits to athletes who participate.”
NIU student Brendan Lochbaum, a junior majoring in kinesiology, was part of the NIU Unified soccer team.
“Being part of the tournament gave us a chance to experience a whole new side of a sport we have been playing our whole lives,” Lochbaum said. “We learned a new set of leadership, team building and communication skills and gained a new understanding of how bonded the Special Olympics community is.”
It’s a win-win for all involved.
“NIU students gained insight and a better understanding of people with disabilities,” Kucik said. “I think they also gained a sense of respect for the athletes; they all celebrated together, and it really showcased humanity on a whole new level.”
Johnson agreed.
“I am looking forward to what this partnership can lead to in the future,” Johnson said. “Both athletes of Opportunity House Athletics and NIU students can greatly benefit from this potential partnership.”
Date posted: May 6, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on When Opportunity House knocks
Over 230 NIU students displayed their research skills, discoveries and artistry on Wednesday, April 17, during the university’s ninth annual Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD). Many others highlighted their important work with community-based service projects during the Community Engagement Showcase (CES). Descriptions of all student projects are available online in the URAD/CES Program.
With the help of over 50 volunteer jjudges consisting of NIU faculty, staff and alumni, presenters were rated on their poster presentation or exhibit’s overall design, relevance of the project, appropriate methods used, and interaction at the poster or exhibit. Judges play a critical role in these events, providing students with critical feedback on their presentations.
NIU recognized the following award winners at the conclusion of the combined events:
URAD Arts, Education, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences Posters
First place: Diana Jarocki (Poster #16). “The Relationship Between Pediatric Reading Disorders and Visual-Vestibular Anomalies.” Department: Allied Health and Communicative Disorders. Faculty mentor: Blythe Kitner.
Second place: Gabriel Sonntag (Poster #70). “The Beginning of Gay Liberation at NIU: Lesbian and Gay Huskies in the 1970s and 1980s.” Department: History. Faculty mentor: Amanda Littauer.
Third place: Rami Lake (Poster #96). “Chutes and Ladders: Testing the Efficacy of Machine Learning in Tracking Footfalls of Rats on Horizontal Ladder Rung Walking Task.” Department: Psychology. Faculty mentor: Douglas Wallace.
URAD Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Posters
First place: James Holmes (Poster #53). “Determining the pH Dependency of Maltose-MBP Interaction.” Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry. Faculty mentor: Jim Horn.
Second place: Katherine Hahn-Boisvert (Poster #25). “Study of the Role of the Protein Crag in Epithelial Cell Polarity.” Department: Biological Sciences. Faculty mentor: Olivier Devergne.
Third place: Zane LaCasse (Poster #37). “Development of Near IR Phthalocyanine Sensing System for EGFR.” Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry. Faculty mentor: Irina Nesterova.
URAD Exhibits
First place: Oriana Flores (Exhibit #200). “Creating Environments that Matter: A Historical and Present-Day View of Student Engagement at Northern Illinois University.” Department: Counseling, Adult and Higher Education. Faculty mentor: Renique Kersh.
Second place: Emily Fried (Exhibit #204). “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Media Strategies of the Diverse 116th US Congress.” Department: Communication. Faculty mentor: Laura Vazquez.
Third place: Aaron Garcia (Exhibit #202). “Development of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for an Arduino-based Temperature Control System.” Department: Mechanical Engineering. Faculty mentor: Ji-Chul Ryu.
CES Award Winners
First place: Maria Aristeo, Hannah Schaumberg and Keshawn Wright (Poster #308). “Conversation Cafes-Diversity Dialogues.” Organization: Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Mentors: Jocelyn Santana and Erin Wilhelm.
Second place: Albert Castrejon, Monica Lopez, Angel Reyes and Monserrat Rosales (Poster #304). “The Effects of College Preparatory Classes for Latino Students.” Organization: Parent University. Mentors: Susana Das Neves and Araceli Lopez Zavala.
Third place: Karen Gonzalez-Jimenez, Itsel Torres Ramirez, Fernando Sotelo and Pablo Valencia Garcia (Poster #309). “Shared Meals and the Positive Effects on Mental Health.” Organization: Wesley Foundation at NIU: Hungry Huskies. Mentor(s): Christina Abreu.
Humanities Award (presented by the humanities group of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
First place: Sarah Castle (Poster #81). “The Moral Relevance of the Doing and Allowing Harm Distinction.” Department: Philosophy. Faculty mentor: Jason Hanna.
Second place: Jeremiah Knoll (Poster #72). “Still They Tempt Us”: Confederate Resistance Strategies in Union Prisons.” Department: History. Faculty mentor: Brian Sandberg.
Third place: Anna Rdzok (Poster #83). “Idealism, God and Spinoza: Combining Views.” Department: Philosophy. Faculty mentor: Craig Warmke.
URAD PCSOGI (presented by the Presidential Commission on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity)
First place:Gabriel Sonntag. “The Beginning of Gay Liberation at NIU: Lesbian and Gay Huskies in the 1970s and 1980s.” Department: History. Faculty Mentor: Amanda Littauer.
Second place: Ronan Kaiser. “Twelve in Two Weeks!” Northern Illinois University Student Reactions to National and International Violence in May 1970.” Department: History. Faculty mentor: Amanda Littauer.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning at 815-753-8154 or engage@niu.edu.
Date posted: May 6, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on URAD/CES winners announced
Student-Faculty Links has been connecting new Huskies with faculty and staff for the past 30 years. Fall 2019 mentees expressed an overwhelming amount of satisfaction with their mentorship experience in the SFL program. First- and Second-Year Experience (FSYE) capitalized on this momentum and is introducing a newly formatted Student-Faculty Links.
“This is a great program. I feel lucky to be a part of it. My mentor has provided me with useful tips and honest observations on to how to improve/approach many school situations,” says a mentee from the 2018 cycle.
Student-Faculty Links is transitioning to a semi-formal structure with new requirements. Mentoring pairs will be expected to: participate in a Mentor Kickoff, attend one First-Year Success Series event (or other NIU sponsored event) and engage in mid-semester and end-of-semester events. These new requirements were created in response to feedback from assessments of the program.
One mentee noted in their feedback form last year, “I might suggest requiring (or suggesting) a more frequent meeting schedule/plan.”
Involvement with this program is highly beneficial to new students seeking guidance and encouragement to make their college experience more successful and enjoyable. Please apply to make a difference in the life of a first-year student!
For School of Music professor David Maki, it’s all about NIU students.
David Maki
“My favorite memories at NIU continue to be centered on watching students succeed on multiple levels,” shares Maki. “Everything from watching a struggling student finally master a concept, to hearing our students performing at a high level, to seeing our students begin and sustain successful careers after graduating. Getting to know their personalities and unique talents over the course of their time here is a privilege.”
Maki has worked for NIU for sixteen years. He serves as the assistant director of the School of Music and coordinator of music theory and composition. His professional experience at NIU has been formative.
“In the School of Music, we have an incredible array of deeply talented faculty members who each are doing unique and amazing things. I am thankful to be part of an environment of focused, serious pursuit of artistic and scholastic excellence, especially in a society where we constantly must deal with a relentless torrent of information overload.”
Maki has been affected by NIU in multiple ways, not the least of which is through the education he received while a student. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1989.
“Being an alum, I have the benefit of experience in knowing that NIU set me up to pursue the career I wanted and to succeed professionally and artistically,” Maki shares.
Maki’s deep appreciation for NIU and awareness of its impact has led him to contribute financially through the NIU Foundation.
“I am proud to teach at NIU and of the work that goes on campuswide that supports our mission to empower students,” he says. “For me, it’s about pride for my institution, pride for my work and pride for our students. By donating, I feel more deeply connected to the mission of NIU and the purpose of higher education.”
NIU’s Day of Giving: 1,895 minutes to Unleash a Huskie
On Tuesday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 8, you can join Maki in supporting NIU students by making a donation during NIU’s first-ever Day of Giving. This 1895-minute period is designed to provide everyone who loves and cares about our campus community an opportunity to support areas they are most passionate about at NIU. That can include a particular program such as the School of Music, student scholarships or Huskie Athletics.
This year’s Day of Giving theme is “Unleash a Huskie.” Through your support, you can help provide the resources necessary for current and future generations of Huskies to start, continue and finish their education at NIU.
When asked to share his greatest hope for NIU students, Maki says, “My hope is that the education and experiences here at NIU are enriching and transformative. I hope NIU students are secure in the knowledge that the path that they have chosen is on a solid foundation. No matter where it leads.”
For more information on the Day of Giving event, visit the website or contact Natalie Troiani at ntroiani@niu.edu or 815-753-8198.
Date posted: April 29, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Artistry unleashed: David Maki shares his appreciation for the NIU experience
Students in Leland, Illinois have had the chance to design electric cars, play with circuits, use soldering irons and more, thanks to a generous donation from Jan Half, a former Leland teacher and NIU alumna. Half’s gift has enabled a new partnership between Northern Illinois University and Leland CUSD #1, a K-12 public school. The partnership provides hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) learning sessions for Leland students, teacher professional development focused on project-based learning and scholarships to help Leland graduates attend NIU.
Half’s entire career has been about building connections between schools and communities to better serve students and prepare them for career possibilities. “In any community, the school is part of the community, and especially in a small town such as Leland,” Half says. “As a teacher, I thought that students should be exposed to various kinds of people and experiences, so I had my friends visit and talk to the students about their jobs, about being an attorney or a veterinarian. And, of course, I brought in the parents and families of my students, too, to talk about their work as a beautician, a business owner or a farmer.”
Half’s focus on bringing education alive for students shaped her early career as a sixth-grade teacher at Leland from 1975 to 1979 and continued to motivate her as she completed her master’s degree in adult and career education at NIU in 1980. From there, she went on to build a career in educational technology. Half worked selling educational technology for companies such as Apple, as director of technology in a four-county region of California, and later, leading a student-centered technology non-profit called Mouse Squad. During this time, she consistently strove to build bridges between schools, businesses and communities.
Leland Technology Director Chris Bland works with students to solder circuits. Bland and other Leland faculty joined students in the NIU STEAM after school workshops.
Half drew on her classroom experience to help teachers make learning relevant for students. “As a former teacher, I was focused on the teachers’ goals, what they wanted to do in the classroom, and how technology could make it easier for them or make it more exciting for the students,” she says.
This focus on hands-on education made a natural fit between Half and NIU STEAM, part of the NIU Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development that aims to spark curiosity, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking through school, community and educator professional development programs. So when Half approached the NIU Foundation with her intention of making a donation to benefit NIU and Leland, the Foundation connected her with NIU STEAM. Now NIU STEAM is providing STEAM learning sessions for Leland students and professional development for Leland teachers and staff.
NIU STEAM kicked off the new partnership with a community-wide hands-on STEAM festival, held at Leland School in September of 2017.
“We set up our largest STEAM exploration labs in two different gyms and had about 80 hands-on demonstrations,” says Pati Sievert, STEM Outreach director for NIU STEAM. “The whole community got involved. Kids came with their parents. School board members came and volunteered, as well as teachers, retired teachers and other community members.”
This year, NIU STEAM dove into science and technology education with three weeks of after-school programming for Leland’s fourth through eighth graders.
“The first week was about teaching the students the engineering design process,” says NIU STEM Educator Kate Powers. “The students had to build a sorting machine to separate buttons and marbles, and every student made a different one – they were nothing alike! There were racks, tubes, even a sorting roller coaster. The students went home and talked to their families and brainstormed ideas and came up with so many different plans.”
Powers says the second week focused on electricity and circuits, and students got a chance to build different types of circuits and try their hands at soldering. The third week brought together all of these skills as students designed and built their own electric cars, culminating in a derby for the students’ families and friends.
A Leland student explores soldering and electrical circuits.
“The students have enjoyed the lessons so much that the teachers have trouble getting them out the door at the end of the day,” says Powers. “We’re always running late! We tell them, ‘You have to leave! The bus is here, and your parents are waiting for you!’ But they always want to finish just one more thing.”
NIU STEM summer camp scholarships will be available for Leland students who wish to continue the fun, hands-on STEAM learning into the summer months.
Principal Chris Bickel appreciates the chance to bring additional resources to Leland students outside of the school day.
“I’ve definitely heard good feedback from my staff that the kids are really engaged and enjoy the activities,” he says. In fact, Bickel is very much looking forward to the teacher professional development, which will enable Leland’s K-12 teachers to bring this same sort of project-based learning into their classrooms.
“It’s always good for any teacher to continue to add tools into their toolbox and learn different ways to instruct a unit,” Bickel says. “I want to equip my teachers with as many tools as I can, and a problem-based learning approach hopefully connects with students, gives the students choice in what they’re doing and makes their work more meaningful.”
Kristin Brynteson, director of professional development for NIU STEAM and the NIU Center for P-20 Engagement, is leading the educator professional development at Leland.
“There’s a lot of research on the impact of problem- and project-based learning,” Brynteson says. “Really, what you’re looking at is students working together to address a driving question that has connections to the real world and an authentic audience. For example, in one school last year, we led a project-based learning unit where students chose to address how to improve the lunch program at their school – a burning question forfourth and fifth graders! The students researched federal government policy on nutrition, created a school garden and conducted surveys. In project-based learning, the students are not just handed information. They’re discovering information, so they tend to build a deeper understanding.”
Brynteson and her team are working with the Leland teachers for five months to help them design and implement project-based learning in their classrooms. “We’re really working to customize the training to the needs of the teacher,” Brynteson says. “We started out defining project-based learning and giving some information so the teachers can collaborate with one another. Now we’re moving into a support phase where the teachers can decide: Do they want us to co-plan with them? Do they want us to co-teach with them? What do they need to be successful?”
The final portion of Half’s donation goes to support scholarships for Leland graduates to attend NIU.
“My hope is that the scholarships will go to students who may not have thought about going to college,” says Half. “Many times, students don’t even apply or think about going to college if they don’t have the financial means, so it’s important to let them know it’s available.”
Leland students constructed small electric cars they designed themselves.
The NIU STEAM and Leland staff are very grateful to Half for the opportunities her donation has offered.
“The money from Jan gives us the opportunity to spend more time with the kids, to build relationships and really develop their design and building skills,” says Powers. “The students get to be really creative without any constraints, other than safety constraints, and that builds their STEAM skills and love of learning.”
“I’m extremely grateful for the donation from Jan, which enabled the STEAM programs for Leland students and the teacher professional development,” says Bickel. “I know she’s also put aside some funds for potential scholarships for our graduating seniors to go to NIU, so we’re just extremely grateful that she’s been so generous.”
Half says, “My four years of teaching in Leland were so important to me, and that’s why I want to continue to have an impact on the Leland school and community.”
Date posted: April 24, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Leland School and NIU benefit from a new partnership made possible by a generous alumna
Northern Illinois University Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier was honored by NIU’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities (PCSM) Thursday, April 18, as one of the recipients of the 2019 Deacon Davis Diversity Award at the PCSM’s Annual Diversity and Inclusion Luncheon at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center on the NIU campus.
From right: Acting Provost Chris McCord, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier, Chair of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities Felicia Bohanon, and Tiffarah Jackson during the Annual Diversity and Inclusion Luncheon held on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
Created in 2004, the award recognizes significant contributions made to the improvement of the status of minorities on the NIU campus by current NIU undergraduate, graduate, professional students, faculty, supportive professional staff, civil service, academic units, offices, programs or organizations.
“Anyone who knows me knows that diversity and inclusion, and promoting diversity across all aspects of the university, is a cause that I am passionate about and have championed throughout my career,” Frazier said. “I’m humbled to be recognized for my efforts here at NIU, but this is more about the efforts and impact of our athletics staff and student-athletes, and what the proud men and women of NIU Athletics mean to both the NIU campus and community! Congratulations to them and to all of the other deserving recipients of this year’s Deacon Davis Diversity Award.”
The award honors McKinley “Deacon” Davis, a Freeport, Illinois native and college basketball star at the University of Iowa who went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. Hired by NIU President Rhoten Smith in 1968 as director of Special Programs, Davis founded the CHANCE (College Help and Assistance Necessary for College Education) Program which has provided the door of opportunity for generations of minority students to both enter and graduate from NIU.
In 2014, Frazier served as co-chair of the campus’ Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, a group of 16 faculty and staff charged with exploring issues that pertain to diversity and inclusion at NIU which resulted in a comprehensive report consisting of 13 recommendations, and led to the hiring of NIU’s first chief diversity officer. He remains committed to that plan and has supported numerous efforts and programs of the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion over the past several years.
Upon hiring NIU alumnus Thomas Hammock to lead the Huskie football program in January 2019, NIU became the only NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision institution with African Americans in place as head football coach, head men’s basketball coach and director of athletics. Vanderbilt University recently joined NIU on that list.
In December 2015, the NCAA and Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) selected NIU Athletics as the 2016 recipient of the NCAA/MOAA Diversity and Inclusion Award. The award annually recognizes and celebrates the initiatives, policies and practices of colleges, universities and/or athletic conference offices that embrace diversity and inclusion.
Frazier has also been honored with the 2014 Distinguished Service Award for his leadership of MOAA. His commitment to the issue dates all the way back to the roots of his administrative career at the University of Maine where, as an assistant football coach, he was tabbed as the athletic department’s multicultural affairs liaison where he created programs aimed at fostering diversity.
Frazier is the third NIU Athletics administrator to receive the Deacon Davis Diversity Award from the NIU PCSM. Former Deputy Athletics Director Robert Collins was honored in 2010, while then-Associate Athletics Director Monique Bernoudy was one of the inaugural award winners in 2004.
Date posted: April 22, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Sean Frazier honored with Deacon Davis award
A special memory of her 28 years at NIU? For Monique Bernoudy, that’s not an easy question.
Monique Bernoudy
“Wow, I have a scroll of memories,” she says. “Recently, it was seeing a student that I previously advised and who excelled as an Academic All-American and student-athlete return to NIU as our head football coach—Thomas Hammock. He loved his experience at NIU and has returned to pay it forward. Another was a recent connection I made with two different students I encouraged to take advantage of the Summer Research Opportunity Program. Both have excelled personally and academically and are tremendous leaders. They are grateful, and I am confident they will give back in the future to other Huskies.”
Bernoudy has worn many hats during her tenure at NIU and currently serves as the assistant vice president for Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The common sense of purpose and mission amongst the NIU community has been a highlight for her. “I love the collaborative spirit and focus on student success across the university. We are a Huskie family that works together to ensure the success of our students. Every employee plays a role that impacts me and our students every day. It is quite humbling.”
Bernoudy believes strongly in the notion of paying it forward, which has led to her to make financial contributions through the NIU Foundation.
“I believe that donating to NIU is planting seeds that afford our students the opportunity to achieve their goals,” she shares. “I expect our students to leave NIU prepared to succeed in a diverse world domestically and globally. Further, I expect that they will become advocates for inclusivity and equity and use their skills and experiences to enhance the environments in which they live and work.”
“Paying it forward is one of the most rewarding experiences in which you can be engaged.”
NIU’s Day of Giving: 1,895 Minutes to Unleash a Huskie
On Tuesday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 8, you can join Bernoudy in paying it forward by making a donation during NIU’s first-ever Day of Giving. This 1895-minute period is designed to provide everyone who loves and cares about our campus community an opportunity to support areas they are most passionate about at NIU. That can include diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, student scholarships or a particular program area.
This year’s Day of Giving theme is “Unleash a Huskie.” Through your support, you can help provide the resources necessary for current and future generations of Huskies to start, continue, and finish their education at NIU.
“Donations to NIU provide exceptional experiences and opportunities for students to fulfill their dreams,” shares Bernoudy. “Join us in supporting dreams!”
For more information on the Day of Giving event, visit the website or contact Natalie Troiani at ntroiani@niu.edu or 815-753-8198.
Date posted: April 22, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Inclusion unleashed: Why Monique Bernoudy pays it forward in support of NIU students
In every life, there are turning points — moments big and small — that change direction for individuals and/or institutions. As NIU prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary, members of the NIU community are invited to submit nominations for the 125 Key NIU Moments collection.
Entries can be made directly on the 125th-anniversary website through the end of the current semester. Over the summer, a group of distinguished emeritus faculty, staff, alumni and community representatives appointed by President Freeman will select the most representative entries. The final selections will be showcased throughout calendar year 2020 in various media, and will reside for future generations in a digital repository illustrated with photos and artwork from the NIU Regional History Center archives.
The 125 Key NIU Moments web page lists potential categories to stir ideas, ranging from athletics and governance to research and student life. The entirety of the NIU experience, from 1895 to present, is eligible for consideration.
The following criteria will be used to judge each entry. Key moments submitted for consideration should meet at least one of the following criteria:
Enhanced NIU’s reputation.
Had a lasting effect.
Set direction for some significant period.
Been a cause for celebration.
Been a cause for deep reflection.
Represent either a joyous or difficult time.
Had a significant impact on students.
Had a significant impact on the university community.
Built institutional pride.
Examples might include moments such as:
DeKalb chosen as the site for Northern Illinois State Normal School, July 15, 1895.
General Assembly gives normal schools power to confer baccalaureate degrees, May 1907.
First national social sorority installed (Delta Sigma Epsilon), April 1944; first national social fraternity installed (Phi Sigma Epsilon), May 19, 1947.
Students protesting the Vietnam War shut down Lincoln Highway; NIU President Rhoten Smith averts violence by calmly sitting with them (May 1970).
Huskies triumph over perennial football powerhouse Alabama, Sept. 20, 2003.
Entries should include as many details as the submitter knows or can easily find, but there is no minimum or maximum amount of specificity required. 125th anniversary committee members will fact-check and help fill in details for selected submissions.
It would be helpful to include a sentence or two about why each entry was significant, but this is not required. Multiple submissions are welcome.
Date posted: April 15, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Submissions sought for 125 Key NIU Moments
The NIU experience not only transforms students but many NIU staff as well. That certainly rings true for Renee Page of NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When reflecting back on her 24 years at NIU, Page has been most significantly transformed through the relationships she’s developed during her time at NIU. “I’ve found many wonderful friends at NIU and from all over the world,” she shares.
Renee Page
Of particular impact was an opportunity Page had to work with a group of Indonesian scholars through the Center for Southeast Asian Studies’ PKPI program. “We spent many hours chatting and laughing as we learned how we were the same, and how we were different. Even now, six years later, I still message with my friends on the other side of the world,” she adds.
When asked to explain how her relationships at NIU and the wonderful diversity found on campus have transformed her, she explains. “My NIU relationships have taken me from a very narrow worldview to one that embraces diversity. I have broadened my understanding of the world and my place in it.”
Page knows that the NIU experience has the same power to transform students.
“My hope for students is that NIU offers them the opportunities that will forever change their lives. I expect them to draw from their experiences to be the best human beings they can be. Whether they wind up with a career in their major or working in another field altogether, the things students learn today will stay with them forever and influence how they view people and how they handle situations throughout their lives.”
Believing in the transforming effect of an NIU education has compelled Page to donate through the NIU Foundation. “When the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences created its Student Engagement Fund, I wanted to see it grow. I wanted to help students achieve their educational goals. While I’m not able to give a lot, I commit to making a yearly donation.”
NIU’s Day of Giving: 1,895 Minutes to Unleash a Huskie
On Tuesday, May 7 to Wednesday, May 8, you can join Page in supporting NIU students by making a donation during NIU’s first-ever Day of Giving. This 1895-minute period is designed to provide everyone who loves and cares about our campus community to support areas they are most passionate about at NIU—whether student scholarships; a particular program area; a place like the Huskie Food Pantry; or diversity, equity and inclusions initiatives.
This year’s Day of Giving theme is “Unleash a Huskie.” Through your support, you can help provide the resources necessary for current and future generations of Huskies to start, continue and finish their education at NIU.
“Even if you can only give $10 or $25,” shares Page, “every dollar counts to retain students and provide them with the life-changing, perspective-broadening experience we all know accompanies an NIU education.”
For more information on the Day of Giving event, visit the website or contact Natalie Troiani at ntroiani@niu.edu or 815-753-8198.
Date posted: April 15, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Transformation unleashed: How Renee Page has been impacted by NIU and her hope for students
An NIU alum is bringing his talents back to campus to oversee accounting and financial reporting and to ensure the university is in compliance with numerous regulatory agencies. Jason Askin joined the Division of Administration and Finance on Monday, March 18, and is settling into his new role as controller.
Jason Askin
Askin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from NIU in 2006 and went on to get an M.B.A., with an emphasis in finance, from North Central College in Naperville. He says the strong reputation behind NIU’s accountancy program gave him a foot in the door, early on in his career.
“The quality of the program and its instructors gave me the tools I needed to be successful for a long-term career in the field of accounting. I’m extremely excited to be back on campus in a professional capacity. I’m looking forward to bringing technical expertise, and the knowledge I’ve gained from my career, back to NIU.”
Askin worked at Sikich LLP in Naperville prior to coming to NIU. At Sikich, he specialized in audit, compliance and financial reporting for governmental entities. His primary responsibilities included supervising audit fieldwork teams, preparing and reviewing financial statements, assessing internal controls, and developing guidance on how to implement new audit and accounting standards – all skills that will help him adjust to his new role with ease.
Shyree Sanan, assistant vice president of Finance and Treasury, says Askin’s technical skills and ability to manage large complex data in highly regulated environments made him stand out for the position.
“Jason brings a depth of expertise to the team,” Sanan said. “He’s spent more than a decade conducting audits for government and nonprofit organizations. His professional experience, coupled with his commitment to service delivery, will be invaluable in our ongoing work to strengthen the university’s accounting business practices.”
Sanan says being an NIU graduate is an added bonus for Jason because it gives him a special sense of loyalty to the institution. Askin agrees and says NIU holds a particularly special place in his heart.
“I really enjoyed my time as a student here. I met a lot of great people, including friends that I still keep in touch with. In fact, I met my wife, Tiffany, during my junior year,” he said. “It’s great to have a personal connection to the university and work here. I’m excited to learn more about what’s happening on campus in 2019 and to get more involved in the NIU community.”
Date posted: April 10, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on NIU alum joins team as controller
First- and Second-Year Experience’s (FYSE) annual service program, Sophomore Days of Service (SDoS), celebrated its seventh year of success this February. SDoS is a month-long service program that aims at helping students make a difference on campus and in the DeKalb community through the two-to-five hour, one-time volunteer experiences. This year, students volunteered at sites such as the Huskie Food Pantry, DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center, Raven’s Husky Haven and the Heartland Blood Center.
NIU volunteers help stock shelves in the Barb Food Mart, a community food pantry, during the Sophomore Days of Service.
SDoS soared to new heights in 2019 with around 88 student volunteers serving at nine different volunteer locations, with many students volunteering at multiple sites. A total of 328 volunteer hours were completed by NIU students, some contributing to cleaner facilities at Raven’s Husky Haven, positive interactions between children and NIU students at the West Elementary School Fun Fair and approximately 14 pints of blood at the Heartland Blood Center blood drive.
Each volunteer experience begins with a quick orientation to the volunteer site and ends with students reflecting on their time volunteering. A student volunteer at DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center remarked, “I came for my friend because it isn’t something I would normally do, but I will definitely do similar things in the future.” FSYE plans to improve and expand SDoS each year and encourages NIU campus partners and DeKalb community organizations to get involved. Each year, as part of Sophomore Days of Service, FSYE in collaboration with the Heartland Blood Center offer a scholarship for participants of the month-long event. Felipe Dominguez was picked from a pool of applicants for their numerous volunteering opportunities with DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center. On behalf of FSYE we want to thank all who volunteered and made SDoS 2019 a success!
Date posted: April 10, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Sophomore Days of Service 2019 is a success
The Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) invite you to attend Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day (URAD) and the Community Engagement Showcase (CES). URAD and CES 2019 form NIU’s annual showcase of the research, artistry and community-based engagement projects that undergraduate students have been involved in throughout this academic year. Undergraduate students will be presenting their work through posters and exhibits for a chance to receive a monetary award by placing first, second or third in their respective award categories.
Undergraduate students showcase their research, artistry and community-based engagement projects during the 2018 Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day and the Community Engagement Showcase.
This year’s events take place on Wednesday, April 17, with various sessions occurring between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom. Stop by and see the impressive research and community projects taking place at NIU! Light refreshments will be served.
To preview the program booklet and learn more about these events, visit go.niu.edu/OSEEL.
Date posted: April 10, 2019 | Author: Sarah Quinn | Comments Off on Prepare to be impressed at URAD and CES 2019
